Washboard



J. F. WHITFIELD ET AL WASHBOARD Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed March 25, 1934 FEGAH INVENTORS.

J05 EFlh F Whitfield .lnhn H. Rimmer' www ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1934 STATES FATE WASHBOARD Joseph F. Whitfield and John H. Rimmer, Hurdle Mills, N. C.

This invention relates to washboards and more particularly to a roller-type washboard.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a washboard of this type wherein the rollers are provided with novel reamer-like groovings and ribs so arranged that foreign matter in the fabric being washed will be substantially sucked from the fabric, instead of being rubbed out, .as is customary. t 1

Another object is to provide such a washboard, particularly sturdy in construction and wherein the frame members thereof are well reinforced by elements having, in addition, other functions.

A further object is to provide an improved washboard which, while strongly built, may be easily, wholly or partly disassembled, providing a small, compact package, or for the purpose of replacing a roller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved washboard, parts being broken away to better illustrate portions of the construction.

Figures 2 and 3 are sections substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved washboard includes a frame having a pair of spaced apart, elongate side rails 5, each of which is provided with substantially parallel outer and inner faces 6 and "I and preferably narrower, parallel front faces 8 and 9. One end (the lowermost) 10 of each side rail may be beveled as is customary, and also provided with a bore 11 extending from the faces 6 and 7. The faces '7 are each provided with a groove or recess 12 extending from the bore 11 to a point spaced from the upper end 13 of each of the side rails 5, as is shown in Figure 1. This groove 12 is preferably shallow but quite broad, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Carried by the side rails 5 is a preferably cylindrical cross piece 14 which extends thru the bores 11 being suitably secured to the side rails as by screws 15.

A top rail 16 extends across the upper ends 13 of the side rails 5 and is suitably attached thereto as by screws 1'7.

Extending widthwise between the confronting inner faces 7 of the side rails 5 and positioned just below the top rail 16 is a suitable backing board or plate 18 which may carry, on its opposite front faces 19 a soap-retainer 20 having drainage openings 21. The backing board 18 which is quite wide is secured to the side rails 5 I by preferably a pair of spaced apart screws 22 extending from each face 6 thru the side rails 5 and into the backing board 18.

Now, for the purpose of providing spindles for the rollers employed as well as a reinforcement for the side rails 5, each of the latter carry a metallic strip or bar 23 which fits snugly within its groove 12. These strips 23 are each provided with a plurality of spaced apart pins or spindles 24 which extend from the inner faces 7 of the side rails 5 when the strips 3 are within the grooves 12. Of course, opposite pins on each strip 23 should align axially, as shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the backing board 18 overlies the upper end of each strip 23 and it is preferred that the lower end of each strip 23 extend to the cross piece 14. Projecting thru each strip 23 are a suitable number of spaced apart bores, such as 25 and 26, the bores 25 being provided to accommodate the shanks of at least a pair of the screws 22 which preferably extend thru the strips 23 from the side rails 5. Suitable screws 27 extend thru the bores 26 and into the side rails 5 and into the backing board 18, being held against canting by their contact with the walls of the bores 25, as shown in Figure 1. These strips 23 are very desirable when so disposed for they not only carry the pins 24, provide a bearing surface for the rollers, but also well reinforce the side rails 5 and, in fact, much of the rigid structure. It should be noted that the side rails are not weakened by a large number of openings extending therethru and that each strip 23 carries the pins 24 as a unit and is rigidly secured to the side rail. The thickness of each strip 23 is such that it lies substantially level with the face 7 of its side rail 5. Each strip and its pins are preferably suitably treated to render them rust-proof and so that they will not cause discoloration of the fabrics being washed.

A novel washing surface is provided and includes a plurality of spaced apart elongate rollers 28. Each of these rollers 28 has, in its peripheral face, a plurality of grooves 29 providing also ridges 5 or ribs 30, all of which spiral about the roller in a reamer-like way. It should be noted that each roller is alike in the arrangement of the spirals and that the ridges 30 are not pointed nor fiat, but well rounded, while the bases of the grooves 29 are also rounded. Extending inwardly from each flat end face 31 of the rollers 28 is a bore 32 accommodating a preferably tubular bearing or bushing 33 into each of which extends a pin 24. It should be noted that the width of each strip 23 is at least as great as the largest circumference of the rollers 28 so that their faces 31 rub against these strips and not against the faces '7 of the side rails 5. The rollers are adapted to rotate freely upon the pins 24.

It has been found that a minimum; of seven grooves to a roller having a greatest circumference of substantially one and one-quarter inches is desirable and that the number of grooves may exceed seven. Less than seven to a roller of the circumference stated does not appear to provide a surface which tends to suck the foreign matter from fabric being washed. As may be seen from Figure 1, the grooves are arranged so that each extends less than one complete turnabout the periphery of the roller. It should be noted too, that each roller is spaced from the adjacent one a distance preferably somewhat less than f'the height of a ridge 30. The rollers may be of wood, rubber or any suitable composition which will maintain the continuity of the ridges when the washboard is being used. T

Clothes do not become entangled: between the rollers nor is the action of the washboard like ordinary ones having a rigid washing surface. The dirt and other foreign matter in the clothes is sucked therefrom instead of being rubbed therefrom and the plurality of rounded, movable, spiralling surfaces, with all the spirals of each roller paralleling and each spiral extending less than one complete turn about the periphery of the roller, provide a contact surface which will not be apt to wear out the clothes being washed, will cause the water carrying the foreign matter to quickly drain from the clothes and the film of relatively insoluble soap which sometimes forms upon the washing surfaces of ordinary washboards is not apt to form on the rollers of this novel washboard.

The construction is such that the whole board may be disassembled into five compact parts, exclusive of the rollers, or one side rail 5 may be easily partly removed in order to replace a roller, yet the construction is such that a particularly sturdy washboard is provided not having the defect of roller-type washboards which generally lose their rigidity of framework after a short time.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: 7

1. In a washboard, a frame including a pair of spaced apart side rails having confronting faces with a longitudinally extending recess in each confronting face, a backing board extending across the upper portion of said washboard from one confronting face of one side rail to the opposite face of the other side rail and overhanging a portion of said recesses, a reinforcing strip countersunk in each of said recesses, each of said strips having a face confronting one another and also having a plurality of pins rigidly carried by said strip and projecting therefrom with each pair of pins of said confronting strips axially aligning, each of said strips extending under said underhanging portion of said backing board and in :face to face contact therewith, means to secure said backing board to said side rails including securing members extending from said side rails through said strips, at the portions thereof under said overhanging portions, and into the adjacent portions of said backing board, and a plurality of rollers rotatably carried by said pins with the ends of said rollers in contact with said strips.

2. In a washboard, a frame including a pair of spaced apart side rails having confronting faces with a longitudinally extending recess in each confronting face, a backing board extending across the upper portion of said washboard from one confronting face of one side rail to the opposite face of the other side rail and overhanging a portion of said recesses, a reinforcing strip counter-sunk in each of said recesses, each of said strips having a face confronting one another, each of said strips extending under said underhanging portion of said backing board and in face to face contact therewith, means to secure said backing board to said side rails including securing members extending from said side rails through said strips, at the portions thereof under said overhanging portions, and into the adjacent portions of said backing board, a plurality of rollers, and means rotatably supporting said rollers from and between said strips.

JOSEPH F. WHITFIELD. JOHN H. RIMMER. 

